Confirmed — Trader Joe’s nixes the Castro

This morning, Trader Joe’s decided not to pursue a new location at Noe and Market Streets (the old Tower Records site). After two years of on-again-off-again consideration of the site, Trader Joe’s decided that the location was not going to work for its business model, one that is fairly reliant on automobile visits.

Brief translation: In addition to the grief Trader Joe’s was getting from some of the neighbors, it wasn’t willing to sign up for the traffic “mitigation” measures, the Planning Department persuaded Whole Foods to entertain as part of its projected move into the old S&C Ford space on Market and Dolores streets.

“I will immediately begin working with the property owner to bring in one or more retailers that will add to the neighborhood. This is a priority for me,” said Wiener.

I’m told he has already reached out to Fresh & Easy, Grocery Unlimited and Pets Unlimited to gauge their interest in the space.

Note to Castro residents: Mollie Stone’s opens its new store at the old Delano’s Market on 18th Street in the Castro at 9 a.m. tomorrow.